The soft hum of the SUV’s engine fills the silence as I lean my head against the cool glass of the window, watching the cityscape blur past. Raindrops streak the glass, catching the faint glow of the streetlights as we speed toward the studio. The muted sound of tires splashing against wet pavement creates a steady rhythm, blending with the low buzz of the heater. I close my eyes briefly, letting the faint scent of leather and Elliott’s cologne in the front seat fill my senses, but it does little to settle the turmoil within me.For days now—four, to be exact—I’ve been plagued by thoughts I can’t seem to escape. Kassian has found a way to infiltrate every corner of my mind, and it’s driving me insane. It’s not just his face, though that alone is enough to leave me breathless. It’s everything about him: his presence, his voice, his scent.Even in my dreams, he haunts me.The wet dreams are the worst. Each one is more vivid than the last, leaving me shaken and dissatisfied in ways I can
An hour later, the studio is in full swing. The lights overhead cast a warm glow, illuminating the sleek furniture and the vivid backdrop displaying the show’s name: “Inside with Nellie”. The faint murmur of the crew’s movements blends with the occasional snap of a clipboard or the shuffle of papers. The scent of coffee lingers faintly in the air, mingling with the floral perfume of one of the assistants bustling past.I sit in a quiet corner, my legs stretched out on a stool, scrolling through my phone while waiting for the show to begin. My fingers brush idly against the smooth surface of the screen, but my focus is on the voice crackling through the phone.“Are you absolutely sure Nellie won’t ask any personal questions?” Zalie’s voice is sharp with concern, carrying a distinct note of worry.“She promised she wouldn’t,” I reply, my tone reassuring. “And you know Nellie—she’s too fearless and nonchalant to lie about something trivial like that.”Zalie’s silence on the other end is
The interview went well—or at least that’s what I keep telling myself. Nellie asked all the expected questions about my health and the mysterious location of my treatment. I kept my answers vague, teasing the audience with the notion of a “secret haven.” Brushing those off felt easy enough.But then she asked about Rowan.The mention of him caught me off guard. My throat tightened, and for the briefest moment, my smile faltered. Nellie, ever perceptive, noticed and hesitated. Concern flickered in her eyes, and I could tell she worried she’d touched a nerve. “It’s not a sensitive topic,” I’d assured her with a light laugh, though the strain in my voice betrayed me.I told her the truth—or most of it. That Rowan and I were still friends, though things had gotten rocky before he… changed. Then, with a playful smile, I added that we were fixing it, even hinting at an upcoming “date.”The audience ate it up. Nellie beamed at my answer, the warmth of the crowd washing over us like applause
Kassian stops in front of me, and his presence is so overwhelming, so all-consuming, it drives every coherent thought from my mind. His eyes glimmer like molten amethyst, vibrant and alive, holding something ancient and untamed, like secrets that could unravel the world.My breath hitches as he lifts a hand, his movements deliberate, like he’s afraid to shatter something fragile.His palm brushes against my cheek, the warmth of his touch spreading across my skin like wildfire. It sends sparks racing down my spine, and before I can think, I lean into his hand instinctively. The roughness of his calloused palm grounds me, tethering me to this moment even as it threatens to pull me under.A smile tugs at my lips, soft and unbidden, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. My body seems to know what to do, even as my mind falters, grasping for clarity.Kassian lifts his other hand, cupping my face between both palms. His touch is gentle, reverent, as though I’m something sacred, som
The tension in the car is suffocating, a thick, oppressive weight that presses down on my chest. It isn’t just any tension—it’s charged, electric, coiling through the air and wrapping around us like an invisible cord pulling tighter with every passing second.The car glides down a nearly deserted street, its headlights casting pale beams that carve through the inky darkness. Streetlights flicker as we pass, their amber glow reflecting faintly on the damp pavement, a reminder of the rain that had fallen earlier. The faint smell of wet asphalt seeps into the car, mingling with the subtle tang of Kassian’s cologne.Outside, the world feels quiet, almost eerie in its stillness. A stray leaf flutters across the windshield, carried by a light breeze that ripples through the trees lining the road. The occasional hum of another car passing by only serves to highlight the silence between us, thick and unyielding. It’s as though the entire world has faded into the background, leaving only the t
The moment the car slows to a stop, my breath catches. My eyes widen as the view outside unfolds before me. The glow of the moon reflects off the restless waves, painting the surface of the sea in a silver shimmer. The sand stretches out endlessly, soft and pale under the faint light, and the salty tang of the ocean wafts into the car through the cracked window, sharp and clean.“A beach!” I exclaim, my voice ringing out as I press my face against the cool glass. My breath fogs the window slightly, but I can’t tear my gaze away. “You brought me to a beach!” The words escape in a giddy shout, filled with a mixture of disbelief and joy.I glance at Kassian, who shifts in his seat, his hands flexing against the steering wheel. “I wasn’t sure if you’d like our date to be in public,” he starts, his tone measured. “Given… our image. And I wasn’t sure what you’d like…”But then he trails off, his expression freezing for a moment. I notice the way his posture stiffens, the way his eyes flicke
The soft glow of the moon washes over us, casting silvery reflections across the gentle ripples of the river. The rhythmic sound of water lapping at the shore blends with the faint rustling of leaves in the cool evening breeze. The air smells faintly of damp earth, salt, and the lingering aroma of the food we’ve been picking at for the past hour.Kassian sits across from me on the thick blanket he’s spread out, leaning back on his hands with a relaxed posture that doesn’t quite match the tension in his shoulders. His voice is low and smooth, but there’s an edge of frustration in it as he recounts his day.“So, I had to go to this company to get some contracts signed,” he says, his tone sharp, “and the wife of the guy I was supposed to meet wouldn’t stop trying to… ugh, I don’t know—seduce me or something. She was ridiculous. Kept batting her eyelashes like she thought that’d do something.”I glance at him from where I’m sitting, cross-legged with my plate in my lap. My fingers idly to
The soft rustling of leaves blends with the gentle lap of the river against the shore, creating a soothing backdrop to the surreal moment unfolding around me. The night air feels cooler now, brushing against my skin with a teasing chill that stands in sharp contrast to the heat pooling low in my stomach.“Kassian, you were telling me about your high school?” I prompt softly, hoping to draw him back to our conversation and ease the tension between us.He hums a reply, low and distracted, like someone lost in thought—or something far deeper.The sound unsettles me, yet it pulls me closer, as if I’m teetering on the edge of something unknown.When he doesn’t elaborate, I exhale a quiet sigh and turn my attention to the dishes scattered between us. The faint scent of grilled shrimp and tangy marinade lingers in the air, mingling with the salty freshness of the river breeze. I focus on gathering the plates and utensils, the familiar motion grounding me.But nothing about this moment stays
“Please, don’t be afraid of me,” Zalie sobs, her voice raw with desperation. “I’d never hurt you, Lynette. Please…” she reaches for me again, but before her fingers can so much as graze my skin, Ivanna yanks her back.“Don’t, Zalie,” she says firmly. “You’ll scare her more than she already is.”Scare me? More? The room is still spinning, my chest tightening with something I can’t name. The sharp scent of blood lingers in the air, iron-thick, curling in my throat. The horror of everything I’ve seen—the bodies, the monsters, the things I cannot unsee—sits like a lead weight in my stomach. And yet, even through the panic clawing at me, a strange numbness has settled in, wrapping itself around my mind like a fog, dulling the sharp edges of reality.“She’s actually taking this better than Lyla did,” Ivanna continues, her voice attempting to sound light but failing. “She’s not screaming the roof down or collapsing—”“That’s because I never collapse.” The words tumble out before I can think.
Vampires are real. Vampires are real. Vampires are fucking real.The words hammer inside my skull, looping over and over, but they do nothing to ground me. Time distorts, stretching impossibly thin, every second dragging as if the universe itself is holding its breath.The bloodthirsty monster lunges, his face twisting into something even more grotesque midair. His already inhuman features warp—cheeks hollowing further, his mouth widening far too much, revealing rows of jagged, gleaming fangs dripping with saliva. His eyes gleam with manic hunger, locking onto me like a predator savoring the moment before the kill.My breath catches. A sharp, involuntary inhale.Every instinct in me screams to move, but I can’t. My body feels disconnected, as if my mind is still trying to catch up with the sheer impossibility of what I’m seeing.If I were the type to faint, this would be the moment. The fear—the shock—is suffocating, pressing down on me so hard my limbs feel like dead weight. But I do
A voice drifts through the haze of my sleep, a whisper slicing through the thick fog of unconsciousness.“Lynette.”The sound is distant at first, barely more than a breath against the silence, but then hands grasp my shoulders—too rough, too frantic. A sharp jolt rocks my body as the grip tightens, fingers pressing into my skin with a desperation that yanks me from the comfort of slumber.I groan, swatting at the unseen hands, trying to burrow back into the warmth of my blankets. But the shaking doesn’t stop. It’s insistent. Urgent.“Lynette, wake up, please. We’re in danger.”The words drift around me, sluggish and weightless, refusing to fully register. I mumble something incoherent and roll onto my side, chasing the remnants of sleep, the lingering warmth of dreams.A pause. A breath. Then, a different voice—sharper, more impatient, cutting through the haze like a knife. “Oh, let me do it!”Silence hangs for a moment, thick and heavy, before— “Lynette, you’re drooling. And Kassian
I stare at Zalie, but my mind is miles away. She moves with fluid precision, her arms slicing through the air like ribbons, but I barely register it. The soft hum of the music, the rhythmic thud of her feet against the wooden floor—it all feels distant, muffled, like I’m underwater. The air smells faintly of honey and amber, mixing with the sharp tang of sweat, yet even that barely sink in.Something is wrong with my head.A cold prickle creeps up my spine, a dull ache blooming at the base of my skull. I’ve never been someone who forgets easily—I remember things with unsettling clarity, possibly even from infancy. But sometimes, especially when strange things happen, my mind turns foggy, as if something is deliberately blocking me from realizing the truth.It’s never mattered much before. Honestly, I never cared. I never gave a damn about anything, not even enough to sneak into Rowan’s secret room, despite knowing every single password he uses.But this—this is different.I’ve never l
Ice erupts from the ground like a living beast, devouring the room in jagged, ruthless hunger. Spikes explode in every direction, sharp as spears, glistening with lethal intent. The walls freeze over in an instant, a thick layer of frost crawling up like veins of an ancient beast awakening. The very air stiffens, every breath clouding white.Oliver, Brian, and Lucian barely manage to avoid the deathly onslaught, their movements sharp, instinctive. One warrior isn’t as lucky—a jagged spike rips through his arm, another through a leg, blood staining the pristine ice in crimson streaks.A thick, glass-like sheen coats my vision. My skin burns—not with heat, but with a frostbite so intense it feels like my veins are solidifying into shards of ice. Every fiber of my being pulses with raw, bleeding cold, the kind that doesn’t just freeze flesh—it kills.And at the center of the carnage, the rogue hangs impaled against the ceiling, thick ice spears bursting through his torso, pinning him lik
A wet, sickening squelch fills the hallway as my boots crush flesh and shattered bone, the blood-soaked remains of the rogues sticking to the soles like a grotesque second skin. The stench is unbearable—a mix of burning meat, rot, and something fouler, something wrong. The air itself feels heavy, thick with the metallic tang of spilled blood and the lingering heat of battle.I move forward, my steps measured, my heartbeat steady, but inside, my mind is anything but calm.Tracking the children had been easy once Lynette sent me the location of Rowan’s old tracking data. It led me to a hidden underground chamber I hadn’t even known existed—despite living in that house for three years. That alone was unsettling, but what really ate at me was the certainty that Lynette had never been in there either. She isn’t the curious type, never the kind to dig for secrets. If she had gone in, she would have seen things she couldn’t unsee—truths about Rowan that would have sent her running for the hi
Kassian’s POVI pace up and down my office, my claws scraping against each other as I bite into them—a nervous habit I can’t seem to shake. The room feels smaller than usual, the walls pressing in, the faint scent of leather and recycled air doing nothing to settle my nerves. The air is thick with tension, stagnant with the weight of everything I’ve screwed up.Lynette is passed out on my couch, her breathing steady but shallow. My heart clenches at the sight of her, fragile and unaware. This isn’t how she was supposed to find out—not like this. I was planning to tell her slowly, ease her into it. But now? Now I’m as good as rejected.I run a hand through my hair, fingers tangling in the strands as I force myself to keep moving. The tiled floor squeaks beneath the pressure of my steps. Oliver and Brian sit nearby, their eyes tracking my movements like wary hunters watching a wounded animal. They say nothing, but their silence is heavy, suffocating.This is partly their fault.First, I
My heart pounds against my ribs as the car rolls into the parking lot of Kassian’s company, a nervous flutter twisting in my stomach.I haven’t seen him in five days. Not since the news broke out. It’s not that he’s avoiding me—he’s just buried under work. Every time we talked on the phone, his voice was laced with exhaustion, tension leaking into even the smallest words. I wanted to do something, anything, to show my gratitude for his support. And since Kassian always makes me feel cared for, I thought it was time to return the favor.Which is why I spent the last five days attempting to cook something edible.With Elliott and Tyson’s reluctant help, I dedicated every free moment to taming my disaster-prone kitchen skills. But I underestimated just how incompatible I am with cooking. What was supposed to be a simple dish turned into something that looked more like a monster summoning circle than an actual meal. I don’t know how it always happens—but viola! It does.Still, I couldn’t
The air shifts instantly. The arm wrapped around my waist tightens, his grip no longer gentle. His entire body stiffens, muscles coiling beneath me. A faint tremor ripples through him, his entire presence turning rigid.The silence is suffocating.“I’m sorry,” I whisper, my voice cracking under the weight of it all.A low, guttural growl rumbles from his chest, vibrating against me, raw and primal. The sound is nothing like the Kassian I know—it’s something deeper, something untamed. I flinch, but I still don’t dare lift my head. I don’t want to see the fury I know is in his eyes.His voice is sharp, shattering the tension like splintering glass. “Is this the first time?”I nod, my throat tight, trying to hold back the sob building inside me. The air around us grows heavier, thick with something unseen but powerful. The sheer force of his anger radiates off him in waves, an intensity I recognize all too well. It’s the same kind of presence I felt in the temple, the same suffocating pr